RANGERS have launched a blistering attack on everyone from Hibs to Nicola Sturgeon as the fallout from the Scottish Cup final goes nuclear.

The Ibrox club have rounded on their Easter Road rivals for failing to condemn the fans who attacked Mark Warburton’s players in the aftermath of the 3-2 victory at Hampden.

They are particularly angry at Hibs chairman Rod Petrie, the SFA vice president, who claimed the pitch invasion by his support was a result of “over exuberance” and that police and stewards deserved praise for their handling of the mayhem.

An entire team of Rangers players and backroom staff, including Wes Foderingham, Lee Wallace, Kenny Miller and Rob Kiernan, were assaulted as thousands of Hibs fans poured on to the Hampden pitch and initial excitement gave way to violence.

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Rangers also rounded on SNP leader Sturgeon, MSP for Govan, after she tweeted her congratulations for Hibs after the match, but failed to condemn the thuggery of the fans of her husband’s favourite team.

Rangers even defended the “tiny minority” of their own fans who came over the top and on to the pitch to trade blows with rivals, claiming they were only acting in defence of the attacks being meted out to their favourites.

In a fiercely worded statement, Rangers also reiterated calls for a full, independent investigation, echoing the statement they made in the immediate aftermath of the appalling scenes on Saturday evening as mounted police eventually moved in to quell the chaos.

It said: “Rangers finds it incomprehensible that no one, either from within the Scottish FA or Hibernian Football Club, has condemned Hibernian’s supporters following the violent scenes when Rangers players and members of our backroom staff were physically and verbally assaulted.

“We have not even had the courtesy of any contact whatsoever from Hibernian to ask after the wellbeing of those who were attacked by their club’s supporters.

“There must be a full independent investigation into the shameful scenes. Rangers is also at a complete loss to understand why certain individuals have hastily attempted to gloss over the appalling events which unfolded at the end of Saturday’s final.

Hibs fans invade the pitch during the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hibs

“No matter how many times Hibernian’s chairman and Scottish FA vice-chairman, Rod Petrie, and certain other biased commentators wish to play down Saturday’s mayhem and violence, the truth must not be distorted.

“What unfolded on Saturday cannot and must not be put down to exuberance. That is a complete insult to Rangers, our supporters, and those individuals who were intimidated and attacked.

“It was clear to most of those who watched in horror that the Scottish FA’s security procedures failed when Hibernian’s fans went over the top in their thousands.

“It is to be hoped all of Scottish football will share Rangers’ disgust and any attempts to attach blame to our supporters for the disgraceful and violent behaviour, which led to our players and fans fearing for their safety, will not be accepted or tolerated by this club.

“We acknowledge that a tiny minority of Rangers fans also encroached on the pitch but only after having been faced with prolonged and severe provocation and in order to protect our players and officials who were being visibly attacked in front of them.

“Any club’s supporters would have done the same. This distressing and deeply disturbing episode would never have happened had Hibs fans behaved properly but as they swarmed across the pitch it became immediately obvious that the security procedures were inadequate and had failed.

“These fans were allowed to rush, unchecked, towards Rangers supporters at the opposite end of the stadium – all the while goading and threatening them.

The Hibs fans invade the pitch at the end of the game

“This makes it preposterous to suggest Rangers fans were somehow to blame as some commentators appear anxious to do.

"This thuggish behaviour must be investigated and as many culprits as possible brought to book and formally charged. This is the second time in a year that Rangers fans have had to endure attacks by another club’s supporters.”

Rangers are raging with Sturgeon, who tweeted her congratulations to Alan Stubbs’ side after the game, but declined to comment on the ugly scenes afterwards.

She tweeted: “Congratulations @HibsOfficial - my other half @PeterMurrell is just one of thousands of happy Hibees tonight. #ScottishCupFinal.”

Rangers added: “It must also be said that it was not at all helpful to see leading members of the Scottish Government, including the First Minister whose parish is Govan, passing comment on social media without any attempt to condemn the behaviour of Hibernian’s fans. These failures are unbecoming of our elected representatives.

“Let everyone be clear on one thing – Rangers demands that players, staff and fans be protected from the violence and hatred of supporters of other clubs.

“Rangers fully expects the Scottish FA and Police Scotland to take action to provide our people with a safe environment.

“When players are unable to accept medals at the end of a final because of fears for their safety and our supporters are alarmed and extremely concerned for the women and children among them, then surely every step must be taken to ensure that this is never repeated.”

Police move Hibs fans off the pitch after regaining control (Image: Reuters)

Petrie declined to be interviewed at Easter Road yesterday amid suggestions he did not wish to detract from his team’s parade through Edinburgh as they celebrated their first Scottish Cup win since 1902.

However, in the aftermath of the worst scenes seen in Scottish football since the Old Firm cup final in 1980 ended in a riot, Petrie had defended his club’s fans and the reaction of security.

He said: “The police and stewards and everyone at Hampden Park deserve great credit for the manner in which they dealt with the situation at the end.

“I am not playing down anything that has happened. A team won the cup and the over exuberance of a number of supporters took them on to the pitch which is unacceptable. I am sorry it happened and it had to be dealt with but I think it was dealt with in a professional manner.”

Hibs boss Stubbs, speaking after his side’s parade today, said: “I was gutted they didn’t get the chance to have a lap of honour.

“But a really unfortunate set of circumstances happened that no-one wants to see. No-one at this football club condones it whatsoever.

“I am sure once the people in charge come together, it will be with a decision we don’t see things like that again and we learn from it. Whatever happens we will have to take it on the chin.”

The SFA also declined to comment, although insiders deny chief executive Stewart Regan did not condemn the scenes, which he said had brought shame to Scottish football.

Regan said after the match: “It’s embarrassing for Scottish football. I want to apologise to the Rangers board, the Rangers players - and to the Hibs players as well, because the gloss has been taken off their achievement.”